AUGUSTA — Two hundred Maine high school students who might not have gone to college will receive up to $2,000 in scholarship funds to attend a Maine technical college, due to a $200,000 matching grant from the Betterment Fund to the Maine Technical College System.

Unlike most scholarships, which are based on competitive criteria, the technical college scholarships are designed to reach those students who are academically capable of college work, but who haven’t made financial and other plans for college. The scholarships will provide $1,000 a year for a one- or two-year program for up to $2,000.

The scholarships will be awarded this spring to 100 juniors and 100 seniors from 25 high schools and secondary technical centers in Maine. Scholarship recipients will be selected by their school principal or director based on their ability to benefit. Financial need and whether they are first-generation college students may also be considered in their selection. Juniors were included at the suggestion of school officials, to give the students a year to plan for college, improve their grades if necessary and/or take any additional prerequisites needed for their desired program.

The Maine Technical College System’s Maine Career Advantage program will oversee the scholarship program. The program is a pilot project. Students’ progress and post-college plans will be followed to assess the impact of the scholarships. Officials say they hope to add more scholarships in the future.